One button remote control with haptic feedback

ABSTRACT

An input system for a TV remote control or other system has a single touch surface with a deformable haptic assembly below the touch surface such that a user placing a finger on the touch surface can feel deformation of the haptic, assembly. A pressure sensing assembly is below the haptic assembly and sensing motion of a finger on the touch surface, with a processor receiving input from the pressure sensing assembly and providing output to the haptic assembly in response. Also, a display receives input sent by the processor in response to input from the pressure sensing assembly to cause the display to present a changing image of a keypad as a user moves a finger on the touch surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to one-button computer inputdevices, and more particularly to one-button remote controls with hapticfeedback for TVs and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Data input devices such as TV remote controls typically includedepressible buttons that users can manipulate to input commands, such aschannel up/down, etc. Touch pad-like input devices have been provided inwhich the buttons do not physically move, but are simply touched by handto input commands. While these devices provide advantages overmechanical buttons, users may prefer the tactile feedback thatmechanical buttons provide. Furthermore, current touch-pad like inputdevices typically model conventional remote controls with mechanicalbuttons by providing the same multiplicity of touch keys as are providedon conventional remote controls, which defeats one potential advantageof touch-pad like devices, namely, the ability through software toreduce the number of components that must be incorporated into thedevice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A TV remote control system includes a portable hand-held housing and awireless transmitter supported by the housing. A processor is supportedby the housing and provides signals for wireless transmission by thetransmitter. A touch surface on the housing is exposed to a user'stouch, with a pressure sensor array supported on the housing below thetouch surface providing input signals to the processor in response topressure from a person's finger on the touch surface. Also, a hapticmembrane assembly is disposed between the touch surface and pressuresensor array and is selectively moved by the processor in response tofinger pressure on the pad. A display presents an image of a remotecontrol key array based on signals from the processor responsive tofinger pressure on the pad. If desired, the image may present more keysthan are on the housing. Indeed, in one non-limiting implementation thetouch surface is the only input device on the housing.

The display can be associated with a TV receiving signals from thetransmitter. Or, the display can be supported on the housing of theremote control.

One non-limiting membrane assembly includes an array of individuallyinflatable fluid sacs. Each sac is associated with a respective valvecontrolled by the processor to inflate and deflate to provide hapticfeedback of a finger moving over emulated button boundaries, with thesac actuation thus being in response to finger pressure on the touchsurface.

Another non-limiting membrane assembly includes an array of individuallymovable diaphragms that are moved by electrostatic force or an array ofelectromagnetic coils.

With more specificity, in response to a non-sliding, rolling motion of afinger on the pad, the processor selectively moves the haptic membraneassembly to propagate a wave across the pad as a haptic model of afinger moving across a boundary of a mechanical data input key.Moreover, the non-limiting display presents indication (such as cursorposition) of which key in the image of a remote control key array ismodeled as the key currently associated with the touch surface. In thisway, the touch surface is associated, with a sequence, of two or morekeys in the image of a remote control key array as a finger moves as byslightly rolling on the touch surface.

In another aspect, a method of data entry includes providing a touchsurface on an input device, and sensing changing pressure as a usermoves a finger on the touch surface. The method further includesproviding haptic feedback through the touch surface of emulated fingermotion on a notional keypad in response to the changing pressure. Visualfeedback is provided on a display of emulated finger motion on anotional keypad in response to the changing pressure, with the visualfeedback being keyed to the haptic feedback.

In yet another aspect, an input system has a touch surface and adeformable haptic assembly below the touch surface and in contact withthe touch surface. A user placing a finger on the touch surface can feeldeformation of the assembly. A pressure sensing assembly is below thehaptic assembly to sense motion of a finger on the touch surface. Aprocessor receives input from the pressure sensing assembly and providesoutput to the haptic assembly in response, while a display receivesinput sent by the processor in response to input from the pressuresensing assembly to cause the display to present a changing image of akeypad as a user moves a finger on the touch surface.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure andoperation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION. OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first environment in which presentprinciples may be used, showing a TV remote control with input pad forsending commands to a TV system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a second environment in which presentprinciples may be used, showing an input pad for a computer;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a third environment in which presentprinciples may be used, showing an input pad for a wireless telephone;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a non-limiting pressure sensor array,supported on a substrate such as a circuit board in the housing of theremote control shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4, schematically showingthe area of pressure on the sensor array from a person's finger;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, schematicallyshowing the area of pressure on the sensor array from a person's fingerwhen the person rolls the finger slightly to induce a motion vector;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of one non-limiting implementation ofthe haptic membrane as established by plural inflatable fluid sacs in anarray that is disposed on top of the pressure array shown in FIGS. 4-6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating how anon-round button shape can be modeled by the haptic membrane;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of general non-limiting logic that may be used;.and

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of another non-limiting implementationof the haptic membrane as established by plural electrostatic diaphragmsin an array that is disposed on top of the pressure array shown in FIGS.4-6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a system is shown, generally designated10, that includes a TV remote control 12 with a housing 14 that bears awireless transmitter 16 such as an infrared or radiofrequencytransmitter for transmitting commands such as channel up/down, volumeup/down, and the like to a TV system 18 having a wireless receiver 20.The remote control housing 14 also bears a remote processor 22 that canaccess a tangible computer-readable medium 24 that may store codeexecutable by the processor 22 for undertaking logic disclosed herein.The medium 24 may be, without limitation, solid state memory, disk-basedmemory, or other appropriate memory, permanently housed in the remotecontrol 12 or removably engaged therewith. The remote control housing 14can also support a visual display 26 and a touch surface 28 inaccordance with present principles. The touch surface may be made of atouch pad material and may be a planar sheet of material that overlaysthe structure described below. As shown, the touch surface 28 may be asingle button-sized input element that operates in accordance withdisclosure below to provide cursor and entry input to the processor 22,which can control the display 26 in response.

The TV system 18 may also have a TV processor 30 that can access a TVcomputer readable medium 32 to control a TV display 34 and a TV tuner 36in response to signals sent from the receiver 20. The TV processor 30,in addition to or in cooperation with the remote processor 22, canexecute logic herein, all or parts of which may be stored on the TVmedium 32. In some implementations the TV system 18 may also include awide area computer network interface 38 for receiving audio-videostreams from, e.g., the Internet. It is to be understood that thecomponents of the TV system 18 may be supported in aa TV chassis, orsome of the components may be supported in a separately housed set-topbox or other receiver that is electrically connected, to the TVprocessor 30.

As shown, the TV display 34 can present an image 40 of a notional keypadwith plural keys 42. In addition or alternatively, the image 40 can bepresented on the remote display 26. As described further below, whileonly a single key-like touch surface 28 need be provided on the remotecontrol 12, slight motion of a person's finger on the touch surface 28as by pressing in a direction of intended cursor motion can result inthe image 40 changing (e.g., by moving a screen cursor) to indicateemulated finger motion over plural notional keys 42, and this visualfeedback of simulated motion is accompanied by coordinated hapticfeedback representing finger motion over discrete mechanical keystructure and generated through the touch surface 28 as describedfurther below.

While one embodiment contemplates a TV remote control application asshown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 2 a touch surface 28 a in accordancewith present principles may be provided on a computer 50 such as anotebook computer with input keyboard 52, processor 54, and computerreadable medium 56: The processor 54 can display images on a monitor 58in accordance with present principles.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 a touch surface 28 b in accordance withpresent principles may be provided on a wireless telephone 60 withwireless telephony transceiver 62, processor 64, and computer readablemedium 66. The processor 64 can display images on a display 68 inaccordance with present principles.

FIGS. 4-8 show non-limiting details of one embodiment of the touchsurface 28 using the embodiment of FIG. 1 as an example, it beingunderstood that the touch surface embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 areconfigured and function similarly: An array 70 of pressure sensors 72such as, e.g., force sensing resistors (FSR) or other appropriatepressure sensor may be supported on a substrate 74 such as a circuitboard in the remote control housing 14. The array 70 lies directlybeneath the touch surface 28, with the below-described haptic membraneassembly intervening but still transmitting pressure from the surface ofthe touch surface 28 to the array 70. While an array of plural sensors72 is shown, an array of a single sensor that can detect motion inaccordance with principles herein may be used.

As shown in FIG. 5, finger pressure, illustrated as a circle 76, may betransmitted through the touch surface 28 to the array 70. When a personmoves the finger slightly as by slightly rolling it or, from anotherpoint of view, by pressing in an x-y direction on the touch surfacewithout sliding the skin on the touch surface, the varying signals fromthe sensors 72 are sent to the processor 22, which derives a directionof finger motion represented by a vector. 78 as shown in FIG. 6. Thiscan be done relatively simply, e.g., in the example shown in FIG. 6,increasing pressure on the upper right sensor 72 of the array 70indicates motion to the upper right as indicated by the vector. Themagnitude of the vector may be determined based on the rapidity ofpressure change in the x-y plane, with faster change indicating greatermagnitude, or on magnitude of pressure in the z-dimension, with greaterpressure indicating greater vector magnitude. Some combination of thesemay be Used.

Once the vector of finger pressure motion is established, a cursor onthe remote display 26 and/or the TV display 34 is caused to moverelative to the image 40 of notional keys, in effect causing the imageto change. Cursor motion is in the direction of the vector and mayproceed at one speed on the display or at a speed that is proportionalto the magnitude of the vector. Cursor motion may proceed, for instance,as long as finger pressure is sensed on the touch surface 28. In thisway, the user is presented with visual feedback of emulated fingermotion on the notional keypad in response to the sensed changingpressure. As intended herein, the visual feedback is keyed to hapticfeedback.

Accordingly and turning now to FIGS. 7 and 8 to understand how hapticfeedback of cursor motion is generated, a haptic membrane assembly 80 isdisposed directly under the touch surface 28 between the pressuresensors and touch surface. The assembly 80 can be inflatable and can beselectively inflated by the processor 22 in response to finger pressureon the touch surface as described in the following paragraphs.

As shown in FIG. 7, the membrane assembly 80 includes an array ofindividually inflatable fluid sacs 82. The sacs 82 may be inflated withair or other gas or with a liquid. Each sac 82 is associated with arespective electro-mechanical valve 84 the electrical portion of whichis electrically connected to the processor 82 by preferably two crossingelectrodes in a control matrix 86, such that each valve 84 isindividually addressable to open or close to inflate and deflate itsrespective sac 82. To this end, a small fluid pump and/or source ofvacuum may be in fluid communication with the valves 84.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, in response to, for instance, non-sliding,rolling motion of a finger on the touch surface 29, the processor 22moves the screen cursor and furthermore in coordination therewithselectively inflates the sacs 82 of the haptic membrane assembly 80 topropagate waves across the assembly that are transmitted to the touchsurface 28 as a haptic model of a finger moving across a boundary of asimulated mechanical data input key 90. That is, some sacs 92 areinflated and other sacs 94 are not as required to establish a raisedperiphery of the key 90, in the case shown, an oval “enter” key, animage of which simultaneously would be presented on the display 26/34.As pressure signals indicate that the cursor moves, the sacs 82 areinflated and deflated as necessary to cause the periphery of the key 90to move across the touch surface 28 in a direction opposite to cursormotion to emulate what the user were to feel were he sliding his fingerpast a discrete key on a multi-key input device.

Once the user has by means of stationary finger motion stopped cursormotion to position the cursor over a desired key on the image 40, he canexert greater pressure or tap the touch surface or input some otherpredefined tactile signal to indicate clicking the key. In response, thesacs 82 may be deflated accordingly to simulate a mechanical key movingdownward when a user presses it.

Thus, by selecting an appropriate sac .82 granularity the surface of thetouch surface 28 can be made to change to emulate the shape of a button,for instance, as if a finger were moving across the flat to over thebutton. The skilled artisan may now recognize, however, that the fingeractually is stationary (apart from the minor rolling motion) and the“button shape” moves like a wave across the array 80 analogous'to thelocation of the cursor as it moves across the display.

This allows users to essentially glide a digit across a button panelwithout actually moving the digit as the “panel is seemingly movingunder the digit”.

Now referring to FIG. 9, commencing at block 100 signals representingfinger pressure from a finger on the touch surface 28 are received fromthe pressure sensor array 70. The finger pressure on the touch surface28, in other words, propagates through the haptic membrane assembly 80to the pressure sensor array 70. At block 102 these signals areconverted to cursor motion as described above, and at block 104 thecursor and image 40 of notional keys are displayed on one or both of theremote display 26 and TV display 34. Keyed to the visual feedbackprovided by the display at block 104 is the generation of hapticfeedback at block 106 as described.

FIG. 10 shows another haptic membrane assembly 200 that uses an array ofindividually movable elements 202 that are electrostatically ormagnetically movable relative to respective stationary elements 204. Inone implementation the movable elements 202 are diaphragms that aremoved by electrostatic repulsion and attraction, in lieu of theinflatable sacs described above. Each diaphragm is disposed between thetouch surface and a respective stationary element 204 that may beembodied as an electrostatic substrate. The diaphragms are individuallybiased toward and away from (i.e., attracted to and repulsed from) theirrespective substrates by selectively energizing and deenergizingelectrodes 206 in a control matrix to electrostatically move thediaphragms. In one implementation, the diaphragms are permanentlycharged and the electrodes 206 selectively energize the substrates. Inanother implementation, the substrates are permanently charged and theelectrodes 206 selectively energize the diaphragms.

The diaphragms and substrates may be square-shaped and formedcomplementarily to each other as shown, or they may assume other shapesand they need not be shaped complementarily to each other. In analternate embodiment the substrates are not stationary and both thediaphragms and substrates may be individually charged to obtain astronger repulsion field (and, hence, stronger haptic feedback) bycharging each side with the same potential.

In another implementation, the movable elements 202 are addressableelectromagnetic coils and the stationary elements 204 are permanentmagnets in a film.

While the particular ONE BUTTON REMOTE CONTROL WITH HAPTIC FEEDBACK isherein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that thesubject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limitedonly by the claims.

1. A TV remote control system, comprising: a portable hand-held housing;a wireless transmitter supported by the housing; a processor supportedby the housing and providing signals for wireless transmission by thetransmitter; a touch surface on the housing and exposed to a user'stouch; and a pressure sensor array supported on the housing below thetouch surface and providing input signals to the processor in responseto pressure from a person's finger on the touch surface; wherein theprocessor determines a vector of finger motion using signals from thearray, the vector having a direction and a magnitude, the processorgenerating a signal to cause a cursor on a display to move in thedirection of the vector at a speed that is proportional to the magnitudeof the vector.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the touch surface isthe only input device on the housing.
 3. The system of claim 1, whereinthe display is associated with a TV receiving signals from thetransmitter.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is supportedon the housing.
 5. The system of claim 1, comprising a haptic membraneassembly between the touch surface and pressure sensor array and beingselectively moved by the processor at least partially in response tofinger pressure on the pad, wherein the membrane assembly includes anarray of individually inflatable fluid sacs.
 6. The system of claim 5,wherein each sac is associated with a respective valve controlled by theprocessor to haptically model finger movement on a keyboard derivedfrom, finger pressure on the touch surface.
 7. The system of claim 1,comprising a haptic membrane assembly between the touch surface andpressure sensor array and being selectively moved by the processor atleast partially in response to finger pressure on the pad, wherein inresponse to at least one non-sliding motion of a finger on the pad, theprocessor selectively moves the haptic membrane assembly to propagate atleast one wave across the pad as a haptic model of a finger movingacross a boundary of a mechanical data input key.
 8. The system of claim7, wherein the display presents indication of which key in the image ofa remote control key array is modeled as the key currently associatedwith the touch surface, whereby the touch surface is associated with asequence of at least two keys in the image of a remote control key arrayas a finger moves on the touch surface.
 9. The system of claim 1,comprising a haptic membrane assembly between the touch surface andpressure sensor array and being selectively moved by the processor atleast partially in response to finger pressure on the pad, wherein themembrane assembly includes an array of individually electrostaticallychargeable diaphragms.
 10. The system of claim 1, comprising a hapticmembrane assembly between the touch surface and pressure sensor arrayand being selectively moved by the processor at least partially inresponse to finger pressure on the pad, wherein the membrane assemblyincludes an array of individually energizable coils.
 11. A method ofdata entry comprising: providing a touch surface on an input device;sensing changing pressure as a user moves a finger on the touch surface;and providing haptic feedback through the touch surface of emulatedfinger motion on a notional keypad in response to the changing pressure;wherein the providing haptic feedback includes: in response tonon-sliding rolling motion of a finger on the touch surface moving acursor on the display and furthermore in coordination therewithpropagating a wave across the touch surface as a haptic model of afinger moving across a boundary of a simulated mechanical data input keysuch that a periphery of the simulated mechanical data input key movesacross the touch surface in a direction opposite to cursor motion toemulate tactile feedback of sliding a finger past a discrete key on amulti-key input device.
 12. The method of claim 11, comprising: inresponse to the changing pressure, deforming at least one membraneassembly under the touch surface to provide the haptic feedback to aperson of moving a finger from one mechanically depressible key toanother mechanically depressible key on a notional keypad.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the input device is a TV remote control. 14.The method of claim 11, wherein the input device is associated with awireless telephone or with a computer.
 15. The method of claim 11,wherein a pressure sensor array is supported below the touch surface andprovides input signals to a processor in response to pressure from aperson's finger on the touch surface.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the membrane assembly is between the touch surface and pressuresensor array and is selectively moved by the processor to hapticallymodel finger movement on a keyboard derived from finger pressure on thetouch surface.
 17. The method of claim 11, comprising providing visualfeedback on a display of emulated finger motion on a notional keypad inresponse to the changing pressure, the visual feedback being keyed tothe haptic feedback, wherein the display is a TV display.
 18. The methodof claim 11, comprising providing visual feedback on a display ofemulated finger motion on a notional keypad in response to the changingpressure, the visual feedback being keyed to the haptic feedback,wherein the display is on the TV remote control.
 19. The method of claim11, wherein the membrane assembly includes an array of individuallyinflatable fluid sacs or individually electrostatically chargeablediaphragms or energizable coils.
 20. An input system comprising: a touchsurface; a deformable haptic assembly below the touch surface and incontact therewith, such that a user placing a finger on the touchsurface can feel deformation of the assembly; a pressure sensingassembly below the haptic assembly and sensing motion of a finger on thetouch, surface; a processor receiving input from the pressure sensingassembly and providing output to the haptic assembly in responsethereto; and a display receiving input sent by the processor in responseto input from the pressure sensing assembly to cause the display topresent a changing image of a keypad as a user moves a finger on thetouch surface.